The International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council at the UAE Presidential Court has announced a new initiative to strengthen the country’s humanitarian leadership.
From September 29 to October 4, a series of masterclasses will be held under the 'Aid Foresight Programme', bringing together global experts to share cutting-edge insights on the evolving foreign aid landscape.
Focused on education, capacity building, experience sharing and strategic networking, the initiative is the first of its kind in the UAE.
Organisers say the programme will enhance the UAE’s ability to engage effectively in crisis-affected and underserved regions across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and beyond.
Among the selected speakers slated to run the masterclasses are Beatriz Nofal, Bart Fonteyne and Hosuk Lee-Makiyama.
- Nofal is a senior advisor on global governance, regional integration and foreign affairs, who served as Argentina’s G-20 Sherpa and Special Representative for G-20 Affairs. Her advisory work spans the World Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank.
- Fonteyne is a Senior Advisor on Development and Humanitarian Aid at Hyphen. He has led complex policy evaluations and strategic planning efforts, including assessing ENABEL’s 2030 international cooperation strategy for Belgium in Africa and developing strategic development models for higher education in Mozambique, Ethiopia and Angola on behalf of the EU, the Netherlands and German international cooperation agencies.
- A Senior Advisor on Trade, Technology and International Affairs, Hosuk Lee-Makiyama is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at LSE Trade Policy Hub, and a Director at ECIPE. He regularly advises G7 and G20 governments on trade policy, economic integration and security. His advisory work has shaped trade agreements and diplomatic negotiations with the EU and influenced economic strategies across Europe.
Core participating institutions include Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), Emirates Red Crescent, UAE Aid Agency and the 13 affiliates of Erth Zayed Philanthropies.

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